Kamarcio Mitchell, Unlawful Firearm Possession, Florida 2024

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL – A Valentine’s Day shootout at The Gardens Mall has landed 28-year-old Kamarcio Mitchell, of West Palm Beach, facing a potential life sentence. Mitchell was indicted by a federal grand jury this week for unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday.

The incident unfolded on February 14th when Mitchell, armed with a handgun, was allegedly followed by another male onto an escalator inside the upscale mall. Surveillance footage shows Mitchell manipulating an object under his shirt – the loaded firearm – before being shot by the other individual. Mitchell then fled, leaving a trail of blood leading to the mall’s parking lot.

Responding officers discovered a disassembled, loaded handgun near the blood trail. Investigators quickly determined the weapon had crossed state lines, making it subject to federal jurisdiction. Mitchell was later treated at a local hospital for his gunshot wound and admitted to being shot during the mall confrontation.

Because of his prior criminal history, Mitchell is being charged as an Armed Career Criminal, significantly increasing his potential penalty. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison, with a maximum sentence of life behind bars. He is currently being held pending further hearings.

The investigation was a joint effort by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. The State Attorney’s Office for Palm Beach County also provided assistance. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John McMillan and Shannon O’Shea Darsch.

Federal authorities say the prosecution falls under the umbrella of “Project Safe Neighborhoods,” a Department of Justice program aimed at reducing violent crime through focused enforcement and community partnerships. Mitchell’s arraignment is scheduled for March 5. As with all criminal cases, Mitchell is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Case number: 24-80022-AMC.

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